Whiffletree



J.B.GOUNDRY WHIFFLETREE.

(No Model.)

No. 465,130. Patented Dec. 15, 1-891.

fiimyea UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. GOUNDRY, OF DENTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY P. GLOVER, OF YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN.

WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,130, dated December 15, 1891.

Application filed August 12, 1891. Serial No. 402,453. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. GOUNDRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denton, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trace-Fasteners for WVhiffletrees, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of tracefasteners wherein the rear extremity of the trace is held flat against a whiffietree or draft- 1bar through the medium of a pivoted yokeever.

The objects of myinvention are to improve the prior construction of trace-fasteners and to provide novel means for locking the trace in engagement with the end of the Whiflletree or draft-bar while holding the rear extremity of the trace against the rear side of the whifiletree.

The invention consists, essentially, in a yoke-shaped frame embracing and pivoted to a whiffletree or draft-bar and formed with an elastic arm, having a hook atits free extremity to enter an eye or socket in the whiffletree, the construction being such that the yoke retains the rear extremity of the trace against the rear side of the whiiiietree, while the hooked extremity of the elastic arm prevents disengagement of the trace from the end of the whiffletree.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a Whiffletree, showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the yoke-frame and its elastic hooked arm.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein- The numeral 1 indicates a whiifletree or draft-bar, having its extremity suitably constructed or shaped to enter an orifice formed in the rear end portion of a trace 2.

The trace-fastener is composed of a yoke frame 3, having one end portion formed into an eye 4 and the opposite end portion formed into an eye or loop 5 and extended intoa recti= linear elastic arm 6, havingits free'extremity formed with a hook 7 to enter an eye orsocket 8, formed in the whiffletree or draft-bar in proximity to theextremity thereof. The yokeshaped frame 3 extends at an acute angle to the elastic arm 6, and this arm is adapted to be sprung in a vertical plane parallel with the plane in which the yoke -frame is arranged. The eye or loop portion 5 of the yoke-frame is inclosed within a sleeve or tubular cap-piece 9, and a wood-screw or other suitable fastening-pin 10 extends through. the sleeve or cap-piece into the body of the whiffietree. The eye at of the yoke-shaped frame is mounted on a suitable pivot or pin 12 at the under side of the whiffletree, and consequently the yoke-frame and elastic arm can be swung in a horizontal plane when the hooked extremity 7 of the elastic arm is disengaged from the eye or socket 8 in the whiffletree. The sleeve or tubular cap-piece serves to confine the eye or loop portion 5 of the yoke-shaped frame in position upon the screw or pivot-pin 10, and enables the yoke-frame and elastic arm to freely swing without liability of being accidentally detached from the screw or pivot-pin.

In operation the hooked extremity 7 of the elastic arm 6 is disengaged from the eye or socket 8 and is swung rearward for the purpose of placing the parts of the trace-fastener in the position represented by dotted lines, Fig. 1, so that the trace can be engaged with the end of the whiffletree and the free extremity 13 of the trace passed through the yoke-shaped frame 3, after which the elastic arm is swung back and its hooked extremity 7 is engaged with the eye or socket 8, thereby causing the yoke shaped frame to press against the free extremity 13 of the trace and hold it fiat against the rear side of the whiffietree or draft-bar, while the hooked extremity of the elastic arm engaging the eye or socket in the whiffletree effectually holds the trace in engagement therewith, so that there is no possibility of the trace becoming disengaged, unless the elastic arm is intentionally lifted for the purpose of disengaging its hooked extremity from the eye or socket in the whiffletree.

The trace-fastener is preferably composed of a single piece of wire; butI do not confine myself to this particular material, as other I into engagement with the eyeor socket inthe forms of metal strips may be used for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, What 5 I claim is The combination, with a draft-bar having an extremity to enter an orifice in a trace and provided with an eye or socket, of a yokeshaped frame embracing and pivoted to the [O draft-bar and formed with an elastic arm, having a hook at its free extremity to spring extremity of the draft-bar to retain the trace thereupon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I 5 my hand and afilixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN B. GOUNDRY. [L. S.]

"Vitnessesr DARWIN O. GRIFFEN, JAMES M. CI-IIDSITER. 

